Bilu Xiang1, Hai Ming Wong2, Antonio P Perfecto1, Colman P J McGrath3. 1. Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, 2/F The Prince Philip Dental Hospital, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong SAR, China. 2. Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, 2/F The Prince Philip Dental Hospital, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong SAR, China. wonghmg@hku.hk. 3. Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Abstract
PURPOSE: It is not clear which factors hold more weight in predicting oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Therefore, this study explored which component of factors (e.g., socio-economic status, clinical status or oral health behaviors, dental anxiety, oral health knowledge) has a better predictive value in different aspects (e.g., oral symptoms, functional limitations, social and emotional conditions) of adolescents' OHRQoL. METHODS: Participants were randomly selected from Grade Two (S2) students within 12 secondary schools in Hong Kong. The independent variables include the following : socio-economic (monthly family income, parents' educational background), oral health behaviors (the frequency of brushing and having snacks like chocolate or biscuits), and oral health-related factors (oral health knowledge, dental anxiety, dental caries and bleeding index). Adolescents' OHRQoL was evaluated using the 16-item Child Perception Questionnaire (CPQ11-14-ISF:16). Frequencies and means were used for data description. Different variables were analyzed as predictors of OHRQoL by multi-level linear regression analysis. RESULTS: 1207 adolescents (46.6% females) participated in this study. The mean total CPQ11-14-ISF:16 was 14.2 (9.8). Mean scores of oral symptoms, functional limitations, and emotional and social well-being were 4.4 (2.8), 4.2 (2.8), 3.2 (3.1), and 2.4 (2.7), respectively. In the final model, adolescents with poorer oral health knowledge, higher dental anxiety levels, brushed their teeth less than once a day and consumed chocolates or biscuits more regularly as reported by a statistically worse OHRQoL (p < 0.05). In addition, gingival bleeding was a predictor of the oral symptom domain (β = 0.7, p = 0.027); the emotional well-being of adolescents whose father went to college had a better OHRQoL (β = - 0.9, p = 0.014) and adolescents from the higher-income family had a statistically better social well-being (p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that adolescents with poorer oral health knowledge, higher dental anxiety levels, brushing their teeth less than once a day, or having a daily consumption of chocolate or biscuits had statistically worse OHRQoL. These findings can provide guidance for future oral health promotion in improving OHRQoL among adolescents.
PURPOSE: It is not clear which factors hold more weight in predicting oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Therefore, this study explored which component of factors (e.g., socio-economic status, clinical status or oral health behaviors, dental anxiety, oral health knowledge) has a better predictive value in different aspects (e.g., oral symptoms, functional limitations, social and emotional conditions) of adolescents' OHRQoL. METHODS:Participants were randomly selected from Grade Two (S2) students within 12 secondary schools in Hong Kong. The independent variables include the following : socio-economic (monthly family income, parents' educational background), oral health behaviors (the frequency of brushing and having snacks like chocolate or biscuits), and oral health-related factors (oral health knowledge, dental anxiety, dental caries and bleeding index). Adolescents' OHRQoL was evaluated using the 16-item Child Perception Questionnaire (CPQ11-14-ISF:16). Frequencies and means were used for data description. Different variables were analyzed as predictors of OHRQoL by multi-level linear regression analysis. RESULTS: 1207 adolescents (46.6% females) participated in this study. The mean total CPQ11-14-ISF:16 was 14.2 (9.8). Mean scores of oral symptoms, functional limitations, and emotional and social well-being were 4.4 (2.8), 4.2 (2.8), 3.2 (3.1), and 2.4 (2.7), respectively. In the final model, adolescents with poorer oral health knowledge, higher dental anxiety levels, brushed their teeth less than once a day and consumed chocolates or biscuits more regularly as reported by a statistically worse OHRQoL (p < 0.05). In addition, gingival bleeding was a predictor of the oral symptom domain (β = 0.7, p = 0.027); the emotional well-being of adolescents whose father went to college had a better OHRQoL (β = - 0.9, p = 0.014) and adolescents from the higher-income family had a statistically better social well-being (p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that adolescents with poorer oral health knowledge, higher dental anxiety levels, brushing their teeth less than once a day, or having a daily consumption of chocolate or biscuits had statistically worse OHRQoL. These findings can provide guidance for future oral health promotion in improving OHRQoL among adolescents.
Authors: Leah I Stein Duker; Mollianne Grager; Willa Giffin; Natasha Hikita; José C Polido Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-02-18 Impact factor: 3.390